Yup. 4's and 5's being handed out like Halloween treats. I expect only the most outstanding stuff is even in the high 5's. I've entered total garbage before that has done way better. I may skip voting this one and leave it to the trolls.

Yup. 4's and 5's being handed out like Halloween treats. I expect only the most outstanding stuff is even in the high 5's. I've entered total garbage before that has done way better. I may skip voting this one and leave it to the trolls.

I think Fiora summarised it well... with the number of entries, and the calibre of images, this is more like a FS than a regular members challenge... images that would usually get in the 6's will battle to get a 6... a mid 5's photo might be pushing the low 5's. It's hard to vote without comparing the image to others you've seen in the same challenge, especially when they share a theme. Just the nature of the beast. For example... "This <insert description> balloon is better then the other one I just voted on and I gave it a 5, so this gets a 6."

Personally, I don't think the troll factor is any worse than normal... just that there are more photos in this, and some are truly exceptional, and everyone else suffers as a result.

Or perhaps this is what I tell myself to help me come to terms that I'm still below 6. :P

Yup. 4's and 5's being handed out like Halloween treats. I expect only the most outstanding stuff is even in the high 5's. I've entered total garbage before that has done way better. I may skip voting this one and leave it to the trolls.

I think Fiora summarised it well... with the number of entries, and the calibre of images, this is more like a FS than a regular members challenge... images that would usually get in the 6's will battle to get a 6... a mid 5's photo might be pushing the low 5's. It's hard to vote without comparing the image to others you've seen in the same challenge, especially when they share a theme. Just the nature of the beast. For example... "This <insert description> balloon is better then the other one I just voted on and I gave it a 5, so this gets a 6."

Personally, I don't think the troll factor is any worse than normal... just that there are more photos in this, and some are truly exceptional, and everyone else suffers as a result.

Or perhaps this is what I tell myself to help me come to terms that I'm still below 6. :P

Votes: 85
Views: 191
Avg Vote: 5.9647
Comments: 2

Again, I just wished more people would rate the photos as the scale implies rather than attempt to distribute votes per challenge.

Again, I just wished more people would rate the photos as the scale implies rather than attempt to distribute votes per challenge.

I guess the problem is really with those of us that want to think of the voting scale as a constant, when it is not. I would love for a 6 to always mean the same thing and a 5 to always mean the same thing. I know it is not going to happen.

I should also learn to not try to be creative or to find something a little different. Next week: Wine glasses!

Does everyone think that the balloons have to be the main subject in the pic?
Cmon people think outside the Frickin box!! And look for originality!!
Mediocrity SUCKS! Open your mind and you will be amazed what you find.(maybe nothing for some)

Does everyone think that the balloons have to be the main subject in the pic?
Cmon people think outside the Frickin box!! And look for originality!!
Mediocrity SUCKS! Open your mind and you will be amazed what you find.(maybe nothing for some)

Yeah, actually, I think Balloons should be the or a main subject of the photo. Not just somewhere in the background.

Either I've lost my touch and don't know what DPC voters want anymore or, I should have joined a DPL team LOL.

I know what you mean. I'm at 4.5 with a shot I really really liked (as did my wife, if that counts for anything). I was wondering if voters are being more harsh because of DPL

Or do we have 300 or so voters (assuming 7 site members per team & 47 teams -- you cannot vote for your own team members) who are systematically voting down good shots to help their own teammates?

I'm not at all sure (by any means) what happens or for what reason but, I have noticed that during DPL "season", the scores are rather bonkers (for lack of a better way to describe it). Perhaps, it is that there are many more entries to each challenge? Perhaps, it is because there are some swings in voting because of teams? Or, maybe, it's like in a Free Study where there are just so many photos to vote on that people tend to mark down shots unless they are "stand-outs"??? Maybe, a mixture of all of the above??? I really and truly don't know what it is or why. I just know that during DPL seasons, I really wish that I had have joined a team had I had the time to be fair to a team, simply because it at the least, means that there is some "compensation" for low scores in terms of having friends pat you on the back for a "good try" LOL! There's loneliness in poor scores when you "go it alone" in here during DPL LOL.

As for how I vote...well, I score according to what I see with each individual photo and base it on its own merits. Personally, I feel "unfair" of me to vote/score based on what others have done. Not many really know what anyone else is going to come up with so I try to vote according to that idea. What each individual has done, they have done individually...at least, in my mind anyway and therefore, should be judged and scored with that in mind. If 10 people for instance have shot bees on flowers, yeah, there's a tendency to compare one to the other naturally but, it's what each of the 10 are saying and how they were shot and edited that I look at in giving out a score. I try hard not to let personal biases come into play as well (as much as I can consciously control that is). I may be fed up with water droplets or splash shots but, I try to see the difficulty in the shot and vote on that merit as well as composition etc.. And, if I really feel that I am ticked off at my own score and have a personal grudge, I won't vote in that challenge. I'll score/vote in the other challenges that week that I haven't entered. I try simply commenting wherever I can on the challenge where I feel I can't be fair with scores. I like to think that I can tell the difference within myself on that. At least, I try to decipher that much within myself before I vote.

Anyways, sitting now at a 4.5 something will likely see that yo-yo down and hopefully, up again soon too now but, also know that the finishing point of my shot will stay within this range, give or take 0.1 or 0.2 points for the rest of this challenge :(

I'm really going to think twice about entering challenges during DPL though. Unless I have a shot that I really feel fits, I may just sit out challenges unless that happens. It's easier on the teeth grinding LOL! ;0)